president obama is taking the personal approach to nail down support. >> this is barack obama. >> reporter: and like romney, the president sees this debate as a chance to talk to america. >> it's a choice between two different paths for this country. it's a choice between two fundamentally different visions for our nation. >> reporter: the president has a lead in all nine of the key battleground states including ohio, which begins early balloting today. >> romney's task is difficult because he has to redefine himself as well as redefining the election. >> reporter: an election only 35 days away but still far from over. and the first debate is on the domestic issues that are defining this election. lynn? >> all right, brian, thanks. >>> elsewhere, the candidates for the u.s. senate in massachusetts, scott brown and elizabeth warren, debated for the second time last night. the two were combative as they staked out opposite positions on issues ranging from job creation to bringing home troops from afghanistan. nbc's david gregory of "meet the press" was the moderator, and they also clashed ov